Berto-Ortiz II - Jorge Lara vs. Fernando Montiel in Play

By Miguel Rivera

As reported a few days ago, triple world champion Fernando 'Kochulito' Montiel was not very happy with the news of Abner Mares challenging Argentine slugger Jesus Cuellar for the 'regular' featherweight title of World Boxing Association.

The fight was officially announced by Showtime last Friday for a date of June 25th.

For months, Montiel was scheduled to face Mares and the bout was going to take place today. The card was postponed when Keith Thurman, who was set to face Shawn Porter in the main event, withdrew with an injury.

Thurman-Porter was rescheduled for the previously mentioned June date. Mares was kept on the card, but now with Cuellar in the other corner.

After the date of March 12th was canceled, Montiel was still expecting to face Mares and was waiting to receive word of a new date.

Montiel was stunned over the news of Mares-Cuellar - which he found out through social media.

A new opportunity has come up.

Montiel has received an offer to face undefeated countryman Jorge Lara (27-0-2, 19KOs), who last September fourth to a six round technical draw with Jesus Rivera.

The fight would take place on April 30 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. The main event is a welterweight rematch between Andre Berto and Victor Ortiz.

"No more bad news. I got a date [for my next fight] and it will be April 30 in Los Angeles against Jorge Lara, with the promise of going for a world title [if I win]," Montiel told ESPN Deportes.

If Montiel wins, it is believed that he will get a shot at the winner of the fight between Abner Mares and Jesus Cuellar, or the winner of the fight between Leo Santa Cruz and Carl Frampton, which is penciled in for the summer.

PBC is making good moves. Spence-Algieri, Glowacki-Cunningham, Browne-Kalajdzic and Ortiz-Berto 2, Charlo-Trout, Lara-Montiel are quality tripleheaders. Thurman-Porter and Cuellar-Mares is a quality doubleheader, hopefully they'll make that one a tripleheader too by adding Rodriguez-Williams.